Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer

February 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

LIGHTNING

Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal by Chris Colfer
Publisher: Llittle Brown and Company
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (258 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips, who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. At a time when bullying torments so many young people today, this unique and important novel sheds light with humor and wit on an issue that deeply resonates with countless teens and readers.

My high school was never this interesting.

I’ve never watched Glee and I didn’t know anything about Chris Colfer before I read this book. Maybe I’ve lived under a rock, but that’s okay. When I passed this book at the store, I stopped to check it out. The title grabbed me right away. Struck by Lightning. Okay, I’ll give it a try. I’m glad I did.
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Carson Phillips is the standard outcast kid with huge dreams. He’s not had the best start in life and will find out just how messed up life can get. But I rooted for him all the way. His voice in the story is forthright and funny. I laughed and cried along with him. He’s got a great cast of characters set in an average high school.

I loved Carson’s pluck. This kid never quit and when it looked like he should, he gave another 110%. He’s mischievous but driven. It’s great. I also loved his relationship with his grandmother. She’s suffering from dementia but she’s the one person who hasn’t given up on Carson. It’s bittersweet and sweet. I love how she always has his back.

The secondary characters helped make the story memorable, too. I loved Malerie. She’s innocent, but there’s much more to her than meets the eye.

Granted, there is some swearing in this book. It’s definitely geared for the upper high school set, but anyone from around 16 years old and up will be able to identify with at least one character.

If you want a book that will make you laugh, cry and want more, then this is a great place to start.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Lost in Clover by Travis Richardson

January 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CLOVER

Lost in Clover by Travis Richardson
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (96 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Welcome to Clover, Kansas, a small town sitting in the middle of America’s Heartland. It’s a peaceful community, until the night that high school student Jeremy Rogers accepts an invitation to party with the “cool” older kids. After things go irreparably wrong, and Clover is thrust into the national spotlight, Jeremy keeps his involvement a secret. As the town heals from the tragedy, Jeremy falls into a psychological abyss from which he cannot escape, until he encounters the monster from his past and has an opportunity to redeem himself.

Sometimes living with the emotional aftermath of a tragedy is more difficult than experiencing it in the first place. It’s easy to wonder how the outcome of a terrible event might have improved if you’d tried a different approach but living in the past can never change what happened.

Jeremy is deeply conflicted. He knows more about what really happened than he lets on but he has no idea how to release his secret without causing more harm. His guilt and subsequent depression went a long way in endearing me to this character. Emotional trauma can take much more time to heal than a bullet wound or broken limb and because the injuries are invisible even the most well-meaning relatives may not understand what one is going through.
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As much as I liked Jeremy the stereotypes in this book threatened to overwhelm the plot. Crazy Eddie’s family is dirt poor, verbally and physically abusive, alcoholic, gun-crazed, racist and ignorant. The citizens of Clover are so xenophobic that they blame troubles for which their friends and neighbours are responsible on the media. Outsiders are dragged through the coals for breaking laws that Clover residents trample over without a second thought.

I grew up in a similar community and know that there are kernels of truth behind all of these stereotypes. The cultural differences between small, rural towns and the urban reports who descend on Clover after the shooting are cannot be ignored. What concerns me is how poorly some of Jeremy’s friends and family members may come across to readers who have never lived in a small town. Casual firearm use and a school prayer that is not lead by students are two of the issues that stand out to me as the easiest for people who have not grown up in this culture to misunderstand.

With that being said the plot of Lost in Clover did an excellent job portraying how the events of one horrific night can ripple through the lives of those affect by it a decade later. Time doesn’t heal all wounds and some memories will never have their sharp edges blunted no matter how many years pass.

Lost in Clover is a chilling reminder of what happens when secrets fester. This is the perfect book for anyone who has ever ached for the truth to be revealed or wondered what really happens behind the closed doors of other people’s houses.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dayling by Gabriel Madison

January 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DAYLING

Dayling by Gabriel Madison
Publisher: Whimsical Publications
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (238 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Turning eighteen is an exciting time for most girls. It means finally being considered a legal adult, having more freedom and a wild birthday party. For Haven Vigano, it means no longer being able to move around in the daytime, immortality and a craving for human blood. Haven is a Dayling, but in three weeks she will ‘Cross Over’ into the world of Nightlings.

Most Daylings live their lives as humans for as long as they can, which means they attend school, make normal friends
and indulge in all the pleasures of being mortal… most Daylings except for Haven. She’s as antisocial as they come,
even in the Dayling world. Haven cruises through life with cynicism and smart-alecky comments. She would rather stay
at home and read a book then hang out with the locals, which is why she had to be dragged to a teenage party with
her cousins. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Haven escapes the party.

On the way home, Haven comes across a teenage boy being beaten by four other guys. Haven saves the boy, Philip,
and takes him to the hospital. This single event changes Haven’s life and her perspective of the human world forever.
This event also creates a new problem for her: she’s waited too long to live in the human world, and dating a mortal so close to Crossing Over would be a big no-no for the head of her Nightling family… her father.

To make matters worst, a friend from her past, another Dayling named Sébastien, arrives in Tallahassee with the news
that an ancient group of Nightling hunters called The Holy Sect of Mântuitors are hunting down and killing her kind.
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Now Haven must deal with her growing attraction to Philip, plus understand Sébastien’s jealousy towards her human
crush, and oh yeah, help deal with the threat of the Mântuitors. Times were a lot simpler for Haven when she felt
indifferent towards everything and everyone.

Haven never wanted to be normal, until it was too late.

I think Mr. Madison has an interesting take on the world of vampires. The idea that vampires exist in two separate states and can reproduce isn’t entirely new. However, I believe Dayling is one of the first vampire stories I’ve read that never mentions a way for humans to be turned. This certainly makes relationships between humans and Daylings/Nightlings very complicated.

Haven is definitely a girl who likes to test her boundaries. Her sharp tongue and abrasive personality get her into plenty of trouble throughout the story. I must say that I was very frustrated with Haven and her attitude at times. While I understand that she is a teenager trying to come to terms with some big changes in her life, I couldn’t believe that she would continue to put her family, friends, and herself in life threatening situations. Haven is a smart girl who definitely knows better. Despite this issue, I’m pleased to note that Haven does have a softer side and is the type of girl who champions the underdog, whether that means standing up for her cousin Angela or rescuing Philip from a sound beating.

I had a very hard time warming up to Philip. He comes off simply as a typical, popular teenage boy who uses his appeal to get girls into his bed. While the girls in the story can’t seem to get enough of his charm, I was a little put off by his attitude. It is very difficult to tell if Philip’s pursuit of Haven is genuine, or if he’s simply looking for another conquest. I will say that Philip never denies his playboy ways and doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. When Haven chooses to hang around Philip, she certainly knows what she’s getting into.

In addition to my reservations about Philip’s character, I wasn’t really feeling the connection between him and Haven. Haven seems to have more of an obsessive crush on him rather than any deeper feelings. When Haven and Philip do have some rare alone time, they spend it flirting, but never seem to truly get to know each other on a personal level because Haven doesn’t seem to be comfortable opening up to Philip. It wasn’t until the very end of the story that I began to see a sliver of hope for Haven and Philip’s future.

The ending of Dayling is certainly intense, but I also felt it was rushed and a bit predictable. I had no problem figuring out who the mastermind behind the murders of the Nightling/Dayling families was. However, the reasoning behind some of this character’s actions remains a bit murky. I’m not sure why this character chose to bring some people into his plot and keep others in the dark. Also, the fate of the antagonist is unclear at the conclusion. Will there be a sequel to tie up this loose end?

In general, I think Dayling is a good read. Mr. Madison’s vampire mythology is interesting, and Haven and her exploits are certainly entertaining. Anyone looking for a vampire story that’s a little different might want to give Dayling a try.

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Cluing In by Jo Ramsey

November 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Cluing In by Jo Ramsey
Publisher: Featherweight Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (228 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Age Recommendation: 16+
Reviewed by Astilbe

Jamey Mandel has life pretty good. But things may not be as good as they seem. Jamey and his girlfriend Tina Kane argue constantly. When Jamey finally gets tired of the fighting and ends the relationship, Tina almost immediately starts dating–and sleeping with–another guy. And then, a few weeks later, rumors start flying that Tina’s pregnant and that her new boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or the baby.Tina comes to Jamey for advice, and he brushes her off. When Tina takes drastic action, Jamey blames himself. Too late, he realizes that he might have been able to help her if he’d just listened.

What happens when high school isn’t the best time of your life after all?

Not only does Jamey genuinely like his parents but he listens to (most of) what they have to say and while he loves his girlfriend he’s in no rush to become sexually active with her. In fact, she’s the one who is pushing him for sex! Too often young adult fiction portrays guys Jamey’s age in a rather stereotypical manner. It’s refreshing to meet a character who breaks the mold without coming across as an after school special.

Unfortunately the dialogue doesn’t sound like it came from modern day high school students. Their speech patters were a little too formal and didn’t include the slang that one would expect sixteen year olds to fall back upon when out of earshot of adults. For example, in one of the first scenes Tina and Jamey argue about “making love”, a phrase that most high schoolers probably wouldn’t use in earnestness when talking about sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend.

I would have also liked to see more time spent explaining something terrible that happens to a secondary character. While she does show signs of being impulsive early on I had trouble making the connection between those scenes and what happens later on in the plot. It would have been nice to see a more nuanced treatment of this individual before pushing her in the direction the author wanted her to go. Without this information what happens to her becomes a little less believable which is a real shame as she was quite interesting.

Due to controversial subject matter and some potentially disturbing scenes I cannot recommend this story for younger teens. Some of the young adult books I’ve reviewed in the past can be enjoyed by people a few years younger than the age I end up suggesting. This is not one of those tales. With that being said, older teenagers will find kindred spirits in characters that are going through difficult social, emotional and medical issues that many young adults experience.

Even with its flaws Cluing In provides a wonderful introduction to tough conversations for people of all ages who are looking for a good way to start a dialogue. From abuse to eating disorders almost every topic is addressed with the utmost respect and compassion.

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Flutter by Gina Linko

November 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Flutter by Gina Linko
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/suspense
Length: Full Length (342 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

For as long as 17-year-old Emery Land can remember, she’s suffered from seizures. In recent years they’ve consumed her life. To Emery they’re much more than seizures, she calls them loops—moments when she travels through wormholes back and forth in time to a mysterious town. The loops take their toll on her physically, so she practically lives in the hospital where her scientist father monitors her every move.

Emery decides to escape the hospital and travel to Esperanza, the town from her loops on the upper peninsula of Michigan, where she meets Asher Clarke. Ash’s life is governed by his single-minded pursuit of performing good Samaritan acts to atone for the death of a loved one. Drawn together they must unravel their complicated connection before it’s too late.

The books for young adults seem to be getting better and better and Flutter was no exception. I think this is a title that both adults and teenagers, especially teenage girls, will both really enjoy.

It’s got a little of everything, sweet romance, suspense, and a nice helping of sci-fi thrown in. It’s told in the first person and you immediately connect with Emery whose point of view the story is told from. She has epilepsy and is confined to a hospital room where her father is a doctor. He comes across as a mix of doting father and someone who isn’t all that he seems so you begin to feel uneasy for Emery. Her seizures or loops as she calls them, are getting worse. Each one is given its own chapter which I thought were all perfectly described and pulled you into the story.

There’s a mystery brewing and it seems that Emery is time traveling when she goes into a loop. So strong is her belief that she takes off to the town she’s seen while in a loop. It’s at this point that the story really takes off and has you turning the pages. The last seventy-five pages of the book I couldn’t put down and kept on reading. I won’t give the ending away but will just say it left me with a few tears in my eyes.

I thought the author presented a unique twist of what happens to people and their brains when they experience seizures. This is a fun book to read yourself or even one to think about giving as a holiday gift to the teenage girl on your list.

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Unicorn Keep by Angelia Almos

September 19, 2012 By 2 Comments

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Unicorn Keep by Angelia Almos
Publisher: Thoroughweb Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (164 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Jiline of Ainsley is dismayed when her best friend is selected by the mages to become a unicorn keeper at the Keep, an isolated mountain fortress. Especially since Madelen is in love and engaged to the richest boy in the village. Jiline on the other hand has no prospects of marriage or a trade in their small village. So, she comes up with a plan to take Madelen’s place at the Keep and hopefully flunk out of unicorn keeper training before the mages can discover the deception. Unfortunately, the unicorns have their own plans for her.

Mage Herrick, son of the Keep Mage, returns home to the Keep as the trainee keepers arrive. A chance encounter with Jiline, who he believes is Madelen, on the trail sparks a magical connection between the two. Knowing he can’t feel a magical draw to someone who has no magic, he tries to prove Madelen (Jiline) has magic within her. His attention brings unforeseen complications for both of them.

Jiline’s friend Madelen is chosen by the mages to serve at Unicorn Keep. The girls are dismayed, as Madelen is to marry the mayor’s son within the year. They hatch a plot and Jiline takes her place at the Keep. She is chosen as a unicorn keeper and becomes friendly with one of the younger mages, Herrick. Her trouble begins when the unicorns decide she is the chosen one who will help them escape from the mages valley.

The interaction between Herrick and Jiline is fraught with tension. Herrick feels the draw mages get when they find their soul mate, but tries to dismiss it as he knows keepers are out of bounds to the mages.

I love unicorns so the title of this book caught my attention right away. Jiline and Herrick are very strong characters, each one determined to do what they feel is right. Herrick secretly defies the Keep authority while Jiline sneaks out at night to meet the unicorns. The unicorns’ story becomes the main plot and the author skillfully brings the animals and Jiline together, and includes Herrick in such a way his story blends seamlessly with Jiline’s.

Young adults who like fantasy with a light touch of romance will enjoy this book. It’s a little out of the ordinary and introduces magic wielded by humans with all the passions and faults of normal people. The unicorns are unique to this story and the author also reveals their personalities so that I got to know them too. I enjoyed reading this book and hope readers try it, it’s well worth reading.

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The Keeper by Natalie Star

September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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The Keeper by Natalie Star
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (230 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

The morning of her sixteenth birthday, Billie feels blessed despite the reoccurring nightmare that wakes her. Loving parents, a caring boyfriend, and great friends surround her until an heirloom necklace throws her into a world she never imagined.

“Gifted” with supernatural powers and an unexpected destiny as the Keeper, Billie and a mysterious boy from her past must work together to find answers. But, as they begin to discover feelings for one another, he disappears leaving her to fight evil alone. Her life spirals out of control. She breaks up with her boyfriend, Tony, and alienates her best friends Arianna and Jocelyn to protect them from the truth.

As dark forces pursue her, Billie longs to run away from it all, yet a need to do what’s right compels her to face the future as the keeper of more than her own fortune.

Sometimes an ordinary life just isn’t possible.

Billie is a typical, if a bit snobbish, teenage girl. She’s pretty, smart, and relatively popular. At first, her attitude put me off. She’s overly critical of those around her and the words that come out of her mouth are often harsh. However, Billie changes quite a bit over the course of the years contained in this story. I truly enjoyed watching her develop into a young woman who learns to genuinely love and appreciate those around her.

When Billie becomes the Keeper and starts receiving her supernatural “gifts,” her world is thrown into chaos. On top of surviving high school, Billie now finds herself fighting nightmarish creatures sent by an unknown dark force. Fortunately, Tyler, her Watcher, is there to guide her. I thought Billie handled her new powers and the revelations concerning her destiny surprisingly well. She still has moments where she breaks down and wishes for a simpler life, but I think that’s a completely normal reaction for a young woman. While Billie sometimes just wants to be a teenager, she also knows that her position is much too important for her to simply walk away. Her strength is very admirable.

Billie’s relationship with Tyler is complicated to say the least. Both Billie and Tyler know that a romantic relationship between the two of them is not smart, but they literally can’t help themselves. They are powerfully drawn to each other. However, the path to their happy ending is definitely a rough one and the situation they find themselves in is not one I remember coming across in other books I’ve read. I thought Ms. Star’s solution to their problem was interesting. While I didn’t completely understand the reasoning behind the process that Billie and Tyler had to go through to be together, I did find the resolution to be satisfying.

I do wish the supernatural aspect of Billie’s world had been explained a bit more. Ms. Star made the concepts of Billie’s gifts, the creatures, and the forces of good and evil clear enough that I could follow the plot without any problems. However, I still wanted more detail. What exactly are the creatures that Billie fights? What started the battle between the opposing sides? How are people chosen for their specific roles? Who makes the rules concerning what is and isn’t allowed in the supernatural world? How has the supernatural aspect of Billie’s world remained hidden for so long? All these questions were rolling around in my mind when I finished reading The Keeper. Perhaps Ms. Star could delve into them in another book?

I also think that Billie’s confrontation with the dark force that had been plaguing her was over a bit too quickly. Most of the story seemed to be building up to an epic battle and while it was intense, somehow it wasn’t quite as big as I anticipated. I also thought the dark force would have had a larger role in the story. Instead, he showed his face briefly and soon the big showdown happened. After the fight, Billie’s role as the Keeper is clearly not over, so I was left wondering who she would be facing in the future.

I found The Keeper to be a truly enjoyable story. I thought the world Ms. Star created was intriguing and Billie had certainly won me over by the end of the story. I was moved to tears near the end of the book when Billie had to make some hard choices in order to protect her family and friends. I recommend The Keeper to anyone looking for a compelling and emotional tale of friendship, love and loss.

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Phoenix by Jennifer Mason-Black

July 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Phoenix by Jennifer Mason-Black
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Astilbe

At sixteen, Tucker has nothing but the clothes on his back, the bruises on his ribs, and the truth about what happened between him and the band teacher. He left home looking to escape his memories, but all he’s found on the road are new bad ones to take their place.

Then he meets Gabriel, a beautiful hustler, and Kelsey, a fire-obsessed girl with a head full of fairy tales. After Gabriel rescues him from a pair of drunks looking for a fight, Tucker’s happy to join him in the abandoned factory he calls home. All he must do in return is help keep Kelsey safe.

There’s always a way out. The trick is to stick around long enough to discover it.

Accurately capturing what it feels like to be a teenager isn’t easy. This is one of those rare books that knows exactly how to talk about complex issues like homelessness, abuse, depression and homophobia without talking down to or alienating its audience. Older readers, especially those who have personal experience with any of these issues, will be catapulted back to the wonder, pain and confusion that can come with living on the cusp of adulthood.

Because this story jumps around in time I finished the last page wishing we could know more about the years of Tucker’s life that happen between his time spent as a terrified homeless youth and the man he eventually becomes. A few clues are sprinkled throughout the story to connect his teenage and adult selves but I’d still love to see a sequel fill in these gaps. Some people transform suddenly while others take years to build the life they’ve always wanted. I cannot help but to wonder to which category Tucker would belong!

It was difficult to pick an appropriate rating for this book. A (consensual) sexual encounter is briefly alluded to and several scenes include graphic depictions of violence that would be inappropriate for younger or sensitive readers. As powerful and inspiring as this book was I think it’s best suited for older teens for these reasons.

If you’ve ever wanted to skip ahead during a difficult chapter of your life to see how everything turns out in the end Phoenix is the perfect book for you.

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The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

November 21, 2007 By Leave a Comment

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Historical
Age Recommendation: 16+
Length: Full (448 pgs)
Rating: Best Book
Review by Rose

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899.

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens
Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear…

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

Anna Godbersen’s debut novel, The Luxe is issued as a YA novel. It’s been years since I could be considered a young adult and I have to admit I found this glimpse into the turn of the 19th century teens fascinating. Think Gossip Girl meets the Gilded Age.

The Luxe is excellent. The characters are well-drawn and the problems facing them compelling and believable. The differences between the sisters lead to a climactic moment that, in retrospect, seem inevitable given their natures and outlook on life.

The peripheral characters as well add an element of richness to the story. The reader will want to slap the obligatory b****y friend and cheer for the lover from “the wrong side of the tracks.”

I’m looking forward to next spring when the sequel comes out, simply because I was left with a feeling of “what will happen to ____” at the end of this book. I was sorry to reach the end and put it down.

I highly recommend this not only for young adults, but for those of us who are… ahem… young at heart.

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